Oceanscan invests in Sonardyne acoustics

International equipment supplier Oceanscan has added underwater acoustic positioning technology from Sonardyne International Ltd. to its rental fleet.

The Mini-Ranger 2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) vessel-based systems and Wideband Sub-Mini 6 (WSM 6) transponders have been acquired by Oceanscan following client demand for accurate and reliable underwater tracking technology to support their projects, especially in the growing offshore wind and shallow water hydrographic survey markets.

Compact, portable and quick to install, Mini-Ranger 2 offers a standard operating range of 995 metres, extendable up to 4,000 metres, and the ability to simultaneously track up to 10 subsea targets (e.g. divers, ROVs and structures) at very fast update rates. It is considered ideal for nearshore operations being run from vessels of opportunity and for construction barges that need survey grade positioning performance, without the cost and complexity of a deep water USBL system.

Adil Ali, Subsea Sales Manager at Oceanscan, said: “We are looking to increase our inventory of Sonardyne’s high-performance and reliable technology to service the renewables and offshore construction industries. We’re seeing strong demand in the market, especially for Sonardyne’s Mini-Ranger 2 and WSM 6+. The market is increasingly busy and we wanted to have the latest and greatest technology available for rent globally.”

Oceanscan’s new Mini-Ranger 2 systems are likely to be employed tracking remote operated vehicles (ROVs), side scan sonars and magnetometers for use in offshore wind construction, including unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey and debris clearance. “With an position update rate of up to three times per second and excellent high-elevation tracking, Mini Ranger 2 is well suited to these sorts of tasks,” said Alan MacDonald, Sales Manager with Sonardyne in Aberdeen. “Mini Ranger 2 is also easy to ship internationally and simple to learn to use, so it is a great addition to a company’s rental pool offering.”